Digital Dungeon Master: RPTools part 2 - Using & Moving Tokens

Ok so my last post was about how to install MapTools, and connect to and start a server. Now lets spend a little bit of time on tokens. I seem to be able to get two posts off during nap time, so like he-man changing twice in one episode this should be good.

In this post I'm going to focus on the basics of tokens, once you get the basics down the rest will follow just by playing with the program.

To add a token to the field

Once MapTools is up and running, go to the Resource Library window and drill down to Tokens.

Make sure you select the Tokens Folder, below it you will see a bunch of new icons.

Click and hold onto a token and drag it over to the grass.

A window will pop up asking for some basic details.

There you go your done.

Right click on your token and view some of the proprieties, lets lets you control in game effects on the token. Lets go to edit the token and add 20 hit points.

Now when we select the token we can see the a larger copy with the hit points and any other details we want. On your turn to move the token, simply grab the token and drag it where you want to move, a path and counter will show up to help you make sure you only move where you can.

When roleplaying, click on the Impersonated window, and select token that says Impersonated Selected. Make sure you clicked on your token.

Now when you type something in chat, your typing as if it was your token.

Adding your own token

Using RPTools you can add your own tokens from pictures online. Simply go to the RPTools website, downloads section and download the TokenTool application.

Follow the same instructions as before to get the program installed. Then double click on tokentool-1.0.b28.jar to run the token tool.

Using any old image you find on the net, simply drag the image from your browser over to the token tool

Now use the zoom feature to make the image fit, and use the dropdown to select the type of token your going to use. Here i have selected a green circle.

Once done go up to File then save token, save it in a new folder C:\MapTools\Tokens

Now you've created your first token, how can you access it? Well back in the MapTools program, Go to File and click on Add to Resource Library, and select your new token folder.

Use the same instructions as before to add the token to the map.

Now that you can create a server, connect to a server, use tokens and make your own tokens your pretty much ready to start a game. I'm glad i was able to get two posts in today. I'm off to a local fair tonight so there will be no MapTool challenge this week.

Keep an eye out for another post hopefully this weekend,

until next time keep your dice on the table.

Digital Dungeon Master: RPTools part 1

Well its been a long week, and i've ment to release this post in a series all week long but life has a way of throwing plans out the window.RPTools is a great website full of diffrent tools to play d&d online, i remember using it back in teh 3.5 days, i had a friend move and we wanted to still play with him. We tried many tools at the time and ended up going with fantasy grounds at the time. However RPTools developemnt has certinaly come around since the release of 4e and is a solid tool.

Installing

Installing RPTools is straight forward. Go to to http://www.rptools.net/ click on the downloads section.

Click on the link for MapTool, a huge list of files will show up. Don't worry you don't need to download each of them, just grab the one on the top.

This is the most recent version. I recomend saving the file to C:\MapTools, though its your system put it where you feel its the most comfortable.

Make sure you tell your players to download the lattest version as well.

Then using your friendly neighbourhood unzipping software (7zip), unzip the file to the same location.

Now your ready to begin, it is realy that simple.

Starting the software

To start the software go into the newly created folder, it should be something like C:\MapTool\maptool-1.3.b56, in there look for the launcher icon, and double click on that. MapToolLauncher.exe

This will bring up a configuration screen, for now lets keep it as the defaults, i will do some playing around with the settings and give some recomendation based on player size & computer size.

Now your in, you'll see a lot of grass and windows everywhere, im not going to focuse on each of them just today. Right now i want to show you how you can start a server, and connect to a server. The rest can be figured out just by playing with it.

Starting a server

You will need to start the server, usualy i recomend this for the DM. Click File, then chose Start Server.

You need to put in a username, it needs to be unique and diffrent than the rest of your friends but it realy can be anything. You don't need to signup anywhere to get one. Make sure you select GM in the drop down box

Everything else you can leave as the default, feel free to add a alias so people know its your game. The options i recomend is strict token ownership, restricted player impersonation, and use tooltips for [] rolls.

Once your ready to begin click on ok.

now its time for your players to connect, check out http://www.whatismyip.com/ to get your ip address, you will need to give this number to your players for them to connect. If your running windows firewall make sure to allow the MapTools through, and if your using a router make sure you open up port 51234. You'll have to find a guide on each router.

Now your ready for players.

Connecting to a server

Connecting to a server is just as simple, once you've been given the ip address from your dungeon master, your ready to roll. Simple go to File, Connect to server.

Click the tab that says Direct, and put in the address you were given. Your username can be anything but has to be diffrent than your DM and diffrent thatn the other players. Only put in a password if your DM has setup a password on the game.

make sure your joining as a player, you might not be able to connect if you select GM.

And there you have it, a simple server connected up and running. Make sure you check the chat window to see whos connected and test everything out.

Watch out for my next posts

• Using & Moving Tokens
• Roll the dice to determin your fate
• Building the Maps

Until next time, keep your dice on the table.